The Kirkus Prize is one of the richest literary awards in the world, with a prize of $50,000 bestowed annually to authors of fiction, nonfiction and young readers’ literature. It was created to celebrate the 81 years of discerning, thoughtful criticism Kirkus Reviews has contributed to both the publishing industry and readers at large. Books that earned the Kirkus Star with publication dates between November 1, 2014, and October 31, 2015 (see FAQ for exceptions), are automatically nominated for the 2015 Kirkus Prize, and the winners will be selected on October 15, 2015, by an esteemed panel composed of nationally respected writers and highly regarded booksellers, librarians and Kirkus critics.

KIRKUS REVIEW

In this first of a fantasy trilogy from the author of the paperback Forgotten Realms, the lofty mountains of the Watershed divide the world into three provinces: Dalethica, inhabited by humans; Faerine, the realm of magic; and Duloth-Trol, ruled by the evil god Dassadec and his unspeakable minions. After a thousand- year snooze, Dassadec has conceived a mighty plan to conquer the world. He sends his Lord Minion, the devil Nicodareus, to recruit the human Prince Garamis to obtain the Ice of Three Waters from the top of the world's highest mountain. This special ice, combining Dalethica's water, Faerine's Aura, and Duloth-Trol's Darkblood, has the power to dispel the illusions that prevent humans from crossing into Faerine; thus equipped, Garamis's armies should easily conquer the realm of magic. Along the way, however, various good guys come together to oppose Dassadec's plans. Young mountaineer Rudy Appenfell swears vengeance upon Garamis for the murder of his brothers. Danri, a digger of Faerine, finds that he's tunneled his way completely through the Watershedjust in time to help Rudy against the vile creatures who've broken through from Duloth-Trol. Also coming to Rudy's aid will be Raine, a warrior, scholar, and spy given extraordinary training because she's the subject of a prophecy about the forthcoming struggle against Dassadec. Crude, obvious, contrived, energetic work, likely to satisfy only the least sophisticated and demanding sections of the audience.

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